By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
NAACP Image Awards Entertainer of the Year Derrick “D-Nice” Jones is bringing his DJ skills to the Hollywood Bowl in “Club Quarantine Live,” a three-hour dance party with special guests Amerie, Carl Thomas, Common, Deborah Cox, Erica Campbell, Isley Brothers, Kiana Lede, Sheila E. and Trey Songz.
This one-night-only special event version of his record-breaking Instagram soirees, produced in partnership with Live Nation Urban; takes place Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.; and will be hosted by Chris Spencer and Donnie Wahlberg.
The recently announced jam session joins a stellar lineup set for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and conductor Gustavo Dudamel’s Hollywood Bowl 2021 Summer Season which includes a free show for frontline workers with Thundercat and Flying Lotus (June 12); and a Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular with Kool & the Gang.
July highlights include Viola Davis narrating “Peter and the Wolf” (15), Christina Aguilera (16), Kamasi Washington & Earl Sweatshirt (18), Ledisi Sings Nina Simone (24), and Cynthia Erivo (30).
August brings “Reggae Night XIX” with Ziggy Marley & Wailing Souls (1); Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns with Tower of Power (8); H.E.R.’s first concert with an orchestra (13); and “Blame it on Rio!” with Sergio Mendes and carnival dancers (15).
The season concludes in September with “Black Panther in Concert” (10-12); “Yo-Yo Ma: The Bach Project” (14); Brittany Howard, Jamila Woods & Georgia Anne Muldrow (18); and Herbie Hancock (26).
Tickets for the slate are available for purchase at HollywoodBowl.com, in person at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office (in the Plaza, outside the Main Gate), or by phone at (323) 850-2000.
MOVIE WATCH: “How do you say good-bye to The Greatest?” The question is asked and answered in “City of Ali,” a new feature-length documentary that tells the story of how the death of Muhammad Ali brought the people of his Kentucky hometown — and the world — together for one unforgettable week.
Ali’s passing on June 3, 2016, came in the context of a bitter U.S. presidential election, a proposed Muslim ban and the global expansion of the Black Lives Matter movement. Yet on the day of Ali’s funeral procession, more than 100,000 people lined the streets of Louisville to celebrate his life, and an estimated one billion people worldwide watched events like Ali’s memorial, held in the packed KFC YUM! Center.
The film, directed by Graham Shelby, explores Ali’s lifelong relationship with Louisville through family (Asaad Ali, Lonnie Ali, Rahaman Ali, Rasheda Ali) and neighbors; and offers remembrances by President Bill Clinton, Billy Crystal, TV’s Craig Melvin and Dick Cavett, four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and many others. The Abramorama movie will be released June 4 nationwide in theaters and by demand on streaming services.
CLIPPETTES: El DeBarge celebrates his 60th birthday, debuts a new single and plays his greatest hits — live-streamed to the world — direct from #Hollywood on June 4 at 6 p.m. Get your tickets at www.rollinglivestudios.com/collections/el-debarge …
Also that evening and June 5, breakout R&B singer-songwriter Joyce Wrice will deliver The Overgrown Experience, presented by the premium digital live platform Moment House. This special livestream will see Joyce with band and dancers performing her acclaimed new debut album, “Overgrown,” executive produced by 2021 “Song of the Year” Grammy winner and 2021 “Best Original Song” Oscar-winning producer D’Mile …
In addition to an upcoming biopic of his life starring Jamie Foxx, boxing’s Mike Tyson will also be the subject of Hulu’s upcoming eight-part series “Iron Mike” starring Trevante Rhodes (“Moonlight”). Margot Robbie and Karin Gist (“Mixed-ish”) are executive producers for the show to be directed by Craig Gillespie (“Cruella”) …
Freddie Jackson headlines the Hot Summer Nights Concert Series at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino June 5. Surface (live taping for a TV documentary), Miche’le, and JJ Fad are also on the bill hosted by Kevin Davis — The Marine of Comedy. Face masks are required with a portion of ticket sales benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of Loma Linda …
La La Anthony is segueing from Showtime’s “The Chi” to season two of Hulu’s “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” in a recurring role …
Julia Bullock gives an expanded version of her recital program highlighting the words, work and experiences of Black American artists on June 9 at Walt Disney Concert Hall. “America: The Stories We Tell – History’s Persistent Voice” features all-new commissioned music by Rhiannon Giddens, Allison Loggins-Hull, Tania León, Jessie Montgomery, Camille Norment, Cécile McLorin Salvant and Pamela Z. Call (323) 850-2000 for more info …
In the final Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis concert of the season, the orchestra will perform a big-band rendition of John Coltrane’s immortal album, “A Love Supreme,” followed by a few of the reedman’s other classics premiering June 10 and available on demand through June 16. Tickets are $20 for the virtual event featuring sax man Sherman Irby and special guest saxophonist and vocalist Camille Thurman at www.2021.jazz.org/virtual-season.
TC ON TV: June 4 – “Lisey’s Story” (AppleTV+): An eight-episode limited series from creator Stephen King, who serves as an executive producer along with J.J. Abrams and star Julianne Moore. With Clive Owen and Ron Cephas Jones. “Sweet Tooth” (Netflix): A post-apocalyptic fairy tale based on Jeff Lemire‘s comic book series from executive producers Susan and Robert Downey Jr., featuring Nonso Anozie (“Zoo”), Dania Ramirez and the voice of James Brolin. “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC): DJ Khaled, Fousheé
June 5 – “The Making of a Woman” (Aspire): A three-part limited docu-series chronicling the journey of R&B singer Syleena Johnson as she creates and completes her 11th studio album, “Woman.”
June 6 – “Gregory Porter Live at Nice Jazz Festival” (TV1): The network celebrates Black Music Month with the Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist’s 2012 performance; followed by the new “Alicia Keys: Live in LA,” coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the singer’s debut album “Songs In A Minor;” and “Black Star Live Vienne Jazz Festival,” reuniting Mos Def (Yasiin Bey) and Talib Kweli in 2018 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their first album. “43rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors” (CBS): Saluting Debbie Allen, Joan Baez, Garth Brooks, violinist Midori and Dick Van Dyke. “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC): Terrence Howard vs. Rob Lowe “The Kings” (SHO): A four-part series chronicling the fierce 1980s rivalry between Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Durán, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard. “To Tell The Truth” (ABC): RuPaul and Cedric The Entertainer “United Shades of America” (CNN): “The Color of America”
June 7 – “Hell’s Kitchen: Young Guns” (Fox): This milestone 300th episode has both teams taking on their first service preparing dinner for boxing legend Mike Tyson. “Infamy: When Fame Turns Deadly” (VH1): Hosted by Grammy-winning hitmaker Monica, the true crime series digs deep into celebrity cases such as the murder of NBA player Lorenzen Wright and the investigation of his shocking death.
June 8 – “Ellen” (Syn): Stephen “tWitch” Boss guest hosts Garcelle Beauvais and fashion’s Winnie Harlow. “The Legacy of Black Wall Street – Part 2” (OWN)
June 9 – “Loki” (Disney+): Tom Hiddleston reprises his role as Marvel’s God of Mischief in a new limited series co-starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Wunmi Mosaku (“Lovecraft Country”) and Owen Wilson. “Fresh, Fried & Crispy” (Netflix): Daym Drops reveals his fried food finds across the U.S. “Awake” (Netflix): Gina Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin”) races against the clock to save her family in this sci-fi thriller. “BET Presents The Encore” (BET): Shamari DeVoe (former Bravo Atlanta Housewife to BBD’s Ronnie DeVoe and lead Blaque singer), Irish Grinstead & LeMisha Grinstead (702), Felisha King & Fallon King (Cherish), Pamela Long (from Bad Boy’s first girl group Total), Aubrey O’Day (Danity Kane), Kiely Williams (3LW/The Cheetah Girls) and soloist Nivea Nash are assembled to form the ultimate R&B supergroup in this reality experiment.
June 10 – “A Closer Look” (ALLBLK): Marsha Ambrosius “Infinite” (Paramount+): Antoine Fuqua directed this sci-fi thriller starring Mark Wahlberg and Chiwetel Ejiofor. “Beat Shazam” (Fox): Ludacris, Larenz Tate, Garcelle Beauvais and Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski compete for charity in the “Celebrity Challenge!” “The Cube” (TBS): Based on the UK megahit and hosted by NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade, this series bills itself as “The World’s Toughest Gameshow.” A $250,000 jackpot is the inducement.
TASTY QUIP: “It’s not going that good right now. We have a lot of evil, corrupt forces in the world, but there’s also a lot of force for good and people who want to treat other people with respect. And there’s a lot of people who want to see more equality, a lot of people working on behalf of that. I feel like it’s very important to affirm the millions of people who are doing that. I think about all of us are in a position to affect change. We’ve reached a crossroads, and not just in America but in the world. Awareness is the beginning of change, right? If you’re not aware, you can’t change.” – WYNTON MARSALIS to Daily Beast
As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving nearly one million weekly readers. Bill Vaughan may be reached at tastyclips@yahoo.com, via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.
